547 research outputs found
Structure And Composition Of Amorphous Ge1-xsnx Thin Films
The composition and bonding configuration of amorphous germanium-tin (a-Ge1-xSnx) thin films are reported (0≤x<0.3). Mössbauer spectroscopy analyses show that under the reported deposition conditions all tin atoms enter the a-Ge network in a perfect substitutional way, i.e., in a covalent tetrahedral configuration. The absence of defect structures in the tin sites is discussed and compared with results on films prepared under different conditions.63115596559
Influencia de la densidad animal en la respuesta productiva de conejos en una explotación industrial
publishedTomo I . Sección: Sistemas Ganaderos-Economía y Gestión. Sesión: Conejos, abejas, peces y cerdos. Ponencia nº 2
Palladium catalysed sequential imine arylation/Suzuki–Miyaura coupling: synthesis of a-(biarylyl)benzylamines
report an innovative, high yielding one-pot sequential catalytic imine arylation/SuzukieMiyaura
cross-coupling reaction, which converts suitably activated imine substrates to various biarylarylmethyl
amine products using several commercial Pd catalysts. Many biarylarylmethyl amine molecules are biologically
active. Insightful computational studies detail the mechanism of the imine arylation process.
The sequence of reactions is likely to be dependent on the reaction conditions
Emerging (Bio)Sensing Technology for Assessing and Monitoring Freshwater Contamination - Methods and Applications
Ecological Water Quality - Water Treatment and ReuseWater is life and its preservation is not only a moral obligation but also a legal requirement.
By 2030, global demands will exceed more than 40 % the existing resources and more than a
third of the world's population will have to deal with water shortages (European
Environmental Agency [EEA], 2010). Climate change effects on water resources will not
help. Efforts are being made throughout Europe towards a reduced and efficient water use
and prevention of any further deterioration of the quality of water (Eurostat, European
Comission [EC], 2010). The Water Framework Directive (EC, 2000) lays down provisions for
monitoring, assessing and classifying water quality. Supporting this, the Drinking Water
sets standards for 48 microbiological and chemical parameters that must be monitored and
tested regularly (EC, 1998). The Bathing Water Directive also sets concentration limits for
microbiological pollutants in inland and coastal bathing waters (EC, 2006), addressing risks
from algae and cyanobacteria contamination and faecal contamination, requiring immediate
action, including the provision of information to the public, to prevent exposure. With these
directives, among others, the European Union [EU] expects to offer its citizens, by 2015,
fresh and coastal waters of good quality
Effect of vineyard floor management practices on water use: A case study at a terroir of the "Dão" winegrowing region in Portugal
Aiming to evaluate the effect of vineyard floor management practices on water use and vine performance, a field
experiment was carried out at the Dão Wine Research Station, located at Nelas, Center Portugal. The experiment
was set up in 2010 in a mature vineyard planted with the red grape variety ‘Touriga Nacional’, using a 2x2 factorial
design with the following treatments: inter-row soil management (permanent resident vegetation vs. soil
tillage) and undervine floor management (mulch vs. herbicide). In this paper it will be presented data from 2013
growing season (four seasons after experiment setup). The volumetric soil moisture, assessed with a capacitance
probe to a 1.5 m depth, showed a decreasing pattern throughout the growing season in all treatments with the
resident vegetation presenting lower values as compared to the tillage treatment, while no significant differences
were observed between the two undervine floor management practices. From budburst to flowering the resident
vegetation treatment showed a higher soil water depletion (up to 1.5 m depth) than the tillage treatment but the
relative situation was reversed during the flowering-veraison period, while no significant differences were observed
during the ripening period. Vine stem water potential values showed a decreasing pattern along the season
attaining very low values during September but with no significant differences between treatments. In general
the soil management practices did not significantly affect vine vigor, yield and berry composition however, since
these results are only from one season, further data analysis in ongoing in order to allow stronger conclusions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Tailoring diuretic therapy in acute heart failure: insight on early diuretic response predictors
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in acutely decompensated chronic heart failure
Spironolactone was likely to provide faster congestion relief.
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Abstract
Background/objectives
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) use in acutely decompensated chronic heart failure (ADCHF) may improve congestion through diuretic effect and prevent neurohormonal activation. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effect and safety of spironolactone in ADCHF.
Methods
Prospective, experimental, single-center, and single-blinded trial. Patients were treated with: standard ADCHF therapy or oral spironolactone 50–100 mg/d plus standard ADCHF therapy.
Results
During a 1 year period, 100 patients were enrolled, 50 included in the treatment group. Mean (SD) spironolactone dose (mg) at day 1 was 94.5 ± 23.3 and at day 3 was 62.7 ± 24.3. Worsening renal function (increase in pCr ≥ 0.3 mg/dL from day 1 to day 3) was more likely to occur in control group (20% vs. 4%; p = 0.038), serum potassium did not differ between groups, and plasma NTproBNP had a significant decrease in spironolactone group at day 3 (median [IQR], 2488 [4579] vs. 1555 [1832]; p = 0.05). Furthermore, a greater proportion of patients in the treatment group were free of congestion at day 3: less edema, rales, jugular venous pressure (JVP) and orthopnea (all, p < 0.05). In addition, a significantly higher proportion of patients were on oral furosemide at day 3 (44% vs. 82%; p < 0.001).
Conclusions
Our study supports the safety of high dose spironolactone in ADCHF and suggests a positive impact in the resolution of congestion. The important findings of our pilot study need to be confirmed in larger trials
The Combined Quantification and Interpretation of Multiple Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Metrics Enlightens Longitudinal Changes Compatible with Brain Repair in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients.
Quantitative and semi-quantitative MRI (qMRI) metrics provide complementary specificity and differential sensitivity to pathological brain changes compatible with brain inflammation, degeneration, and repair. Moreover, advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics with overlapping elements amplify the true tissue-related information and limit measurement noise. In this work, we combined multiple advanced MRI parameters to assess focal and diffuse brain changes over 2 years in a group of early-stage relapsing-remitting MS patients.
Thirty relapsing-remitting MS patients with less than 5 years disease duration and nine healthy subjects underwent 3T MRI at baseline and after 2 years including T1, T2, T2* relaxometry, and magnetization transfer imaging. To assess longitudinal changes in normal-appearing (NA) tissue and lesions, we used analyses of variance and Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the correlation between clinical outcome and multiparametric MRI changes in lesions and NA tissue.
In patients, we measured a significant longitudinal decrease of mean T2 relaxation times in NA white matter (p = 0.005) and a decrease of T1 relaxation times in the pallidum (p < 0.05), which are compatible with edema reabsorption and/or iron deposition. No longitudinal changes in qMRI metrics were observed in controls. In MS lesions, we measured a decrease in T1 relaxation time (p-value < 2.2e-16) and a significant increase in MTR (p-value < 1e-6), suggesting repair mechanisms, such as remyelination, increased axonal density, and/or a gliosis. Last, the evolution of advanced MRI metrics-and not changes in lesions or brain volume-were correlated to motor and cognitive tests scores evolution (Adj-R(2) > 0.4, p < 0.05). In summary, the combination of multiple advanced MRI provided evidence of changes compatible with focal and diffuse brain repair at early MS stages as suggested by histopathological studies
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